Tideway teaches the national framework used by Swim England. Each stage has clear, measurable outcomes — your child only moves up when they can demonstrate every skill.
Stage 1
Water confidence
First steps — entering the water safely, blowing bubbles and feeling at home.
Stage 2
Independent movement
Travel without support over short distances and explore floats and rotation.
Stage 3
Travel and submersion
Swim 10m unaided and fully submerge to pick up an object.
Stage 4
Recognisable strokes
Front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke begin to take shape over 10m.
Stage 5
Skill development
Refining all four strokes including butterfly leg-kick and turns.
Stage 6
Stroke development
Distance and quality — swimming the four competitive strokes correctly.
Stage 7
Quality strokes
100m continuous swimming using a combination of strokes.
Stage 8
Aquatic skills
Specialist disciplines — water polo, synchro, diving foundations and rookie lifesaving.
Stage 9
Performance foundations
Pace and performance — race-paced swims and lifesaving readiness.
Stage 10
Confident swimmer
Competent across all four strokes, fit for clubs, lifesaving and open water.
Every six weeks your child's instructor scores them against the Swim England skill checklist for their current stage. When all skills are ticked, they move up — and you'll see the new badge in their parent portal that week.
Swimmers who complete Stage 10 are invited to join Tideway Squad or move into specialist disciplines — water polo, synchro, diving, lifesaving, or club competitive swimming with one of our partner clubs.